The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-06-02
A PET BLUE JAY.
The Peculiar Antics of An Intelligent and
Fun-Loving Bird.

The Peculiar Antics of An Intelligent and
Fun-Loving Bird
When he has more of any special
dainty than he can eat at the moment,
as meat or bread and milk, he hides i,
st the back of his tray. And when
outside nothing can be droller than
the air of concern with which he goes
around the floor. picking up any small
thing he finds left purposely for him,
burnt match, small key, stray pins
or marble, and seeks the very best
and most secluded spot in the room in
which to hide it A pin he takes
lengthwise in his mouth, which he
closes as though he had swallowed it,
and at first 1 feared he had. He has
no doubt about the best place for that;
he long ago decided that between the
leaves of a book safest So he pro-
ceess at once to find a convenient vol
ume and thrusts the pin far in out of
sight. A match gives him the most
trouble. He tries the cracks under the
grooves in the moldiag of the doors,
the Dashboard, between the mating
and the wall, or under a rocker; in
each place he puts it carefully and
pounds it in, then hops off, attempting
to look unconcerned, as if he had not
been doing any thing.
But if he sees that he is observed or
the match is too plainly in sight he re-
moves it and begins again, running
and hopping around on the floor with
the most solemn and business-like air,
as though he had the affairs of the ma
ton on his shoulders, the match thrust
nearly the whole length into his mouth.
The place usually decided upon is an
opening between the breadths of
mating. 1t is amusing when he
chances to get hold of a box of
matches, accidentally left open, for
he feels the necessity and importance
of disposing of each one, and is busy
and industrious in proportion to the
task before him. 1t is not so pleasant,
however, when, in his hammering, he
sets one off, as he often does; for they
are "parlor matches" and light with a
small explosion, which frightens him
half out of his wits, and me as well,
lest he should set the house afire.
He finds the oldest hiding places, as
in a caster between the wheels and its
frame; up inside the seat of a stuffed
chair, to reach which he flies up on the
webbing and goes in among the
springs; in the side of my slipper while
on my foot; in the loop of bow; in
the plaits of ruffle; under a pillow.
Often when l get up a shower of the
jays treasures falls from various hid
ing places about my dress-nails,
matches, shoe-buttons and others; and
Jam never sure that I shall not find
soft, milk-soaked bread in my slipper
But the latest discovery and most an
noying of his receptacles is my. hair.
He delights in standing on the high
back of my rockingham or on my
shoulder, and he soon discovered
several very desirable hitling-places
conveniently near, such as my ear and
under the loosely-dressed hair. l did
not object to his using these, but when
he attempted to tuck some choice thing
between my lips l rebelled. 1 never
expect to find key-hole that he can
reach free from bread-crumbs, and the
openings of my waste-basket are usu-
ally decorated with objects half driven
in.-OLiCe Z. Miller. tn atlantic.